How to Deal with Unresponsive Teammates

If you’ve ever tried to grow a network marketing or direct sells team, you’ve no doubt had team members who just don’t respond to you.

I know. It’s frustrating.

You might not want to hear this, but having team members not respond to you is something you should expect. Most people aren’t going to actually treat their business like a real business. (We’re not going to get into why that is, because that’s a whole series of blog posts.)

So, how do you handle those unresponsive teammates? I have a few tips for you to try so that the result is positive, or at the very least, greatly reduces your frustration so that you can move on building your business.

Be sure to read through to the end because I’ll give you some specific things to say that almost always gets a response.

Set Expectations Early

People just don’t do things they say they will do. They say they’ll meet you at the training or business presentation, and they cancel at the last minute. Or they never even say anything at all.

Sure, it’s frustrating, but you should expect this, too.

People are always excited and pumped up when starting their network marketing business. But it’s what you do when the excitement wears off that matters most.

One of the best ways to avoid this is to set expectations in the beginning. Make sure your teammates know that a legitimate business takes time to build, and that there will be ups and downs. Make sure they understand that it’s their business, and ultimately, it’s up to them to contact you.

This doesn’t mean you should never contact them, but the point is to set the expectation that the power is in their control. It’s their business, and it’s up to them to treat it like a business.

If they decide not to respond, it’s their loss.

Remember, you don’t NEED them. The business and opportunity are for them. You’re there to help and coach them. You’re there to plug them into your team and the system.

So, don’t be upset if you aren’t getting a response. If YOU are treating it like a business, then you won’t get hung up on any one person. Your vision and your business are much bigger than any one person who doesn’t respond.

They Aren’t Responding to Calls or Texts

What if your teammates aren’t responding to your calls or texts? First of all, don’t automatically assume they’re avoiding you.

This can be a natural reaction, but it’s often a false one. How you approach these situations can make a ton of difference.

What to Say, and Why It Works

OK, so let’s look at a few things to say to unresponsive teammates that have worked really well for me and that I’ve learned from some of the best in the business.

Let’s say you have a teammate who isn’t responding to you. Wait one day and call again. If they don’t answer, leave a message or send a text along these lines:

“Hey, NAME. I just wanted to check back with you about the appointment we had yesterday. I never heard from you so I wanted to make sure you’re OK. Call me when you get this.”

Most people don’t want you to think there is something wrong with them, so they will usually respond to let you know they’re doing OK.

You can also refocus on why they wanted to do the business in the first place with something like:

“Hey, NAME. I haven’t heard from you in a while, so I just wanted to check in to see if you are still wanting to make some extra money for your daughter’s preschool tuition.”

Focus on whatever their reason is, but it helps to let them know you are focused on helping them reach their goals.

If they still aren’t responding, try something like this as a final attempt:

“Hey, NAME. I haven’t heard from you in a couple weeks, so I wanted to check back one last time to see if you still wanted to make some money with your business. It’s totally fine if you don’t. If so, I’ll cross you off my list. It isn’t for everyone but I’ll definitely be here if you decide to get going again.”

Something along those lines with the key points being “check back one last time” and “I’ll cross you off my list.” This gives a sense of urgency. Plus, people don’t like to be crossed off lists. It also positions you as bringing value to them, because your business to grow with or without them.

The main things to keep in mind: don’t bug them, maintain the posture of the value being theirs, and always remember that your business is NOT dependent on any one person.

P.S. Did this post help you? If you got value from it or know someone who would, please share it and leave a comment below with your suggestions. And don't forget to enroll in my free training How to Stand Out Online and Land Your Dream Customers for tips you can start doing right now to attract your dream customers online.

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